(VOVworld) – Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced his resignation Thursday and expressed his support for his successor Haidar al-Abadi.

Nuri al-Maliki decides to resign to pave the way for the establishment of a new Iraqi government.

Al-Maliki’s resignation is expected to ease the political tension in Iraq caused by Sunni insurgents. Speaking on a national TV channel, Al-Maliki announced his decision not to run for a 3^rd term to pave the way for the establishment of a new Iraqi government and to show support for Al-Abadi. He said he doesn’t want to be the reason for more bloodshed in Iraq.
The UN imposed a state of emergency Thursday, as Islamic State (IS) militants attacked fiercely in Northern and Western Iraq, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. UN special representative Nickolay Mladenov said that the declaration by the UN of a "Level 3 Emergency" in Iraq would “facilitate mobilization of additional resources in goods, funds, and assets to ensure a more effective response to the humanitarian needs of populations affected by forced displacements”. Nearly 1.5 million people have fled their homes since IS militants took over Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, in June.